ALLENTOWN, PA – Sacred Heart HealthCare System has been selected the '2011 Business of the Year' from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Sacred Heart HealthCare System will be honored at The Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at Stabler Arena. John Nespoli, Sacred Heart’s President & CEO, will accept the award at the annual Chamber Meeting comprised of over 1,000 active Chamber members, Lehigh Valley business leaders and executive/management attendees.

The Business of the Year Award was created to recognize a company or organization that demonstrates successful business operations, displays broad interest and involvement in the community, and brings a notable measure of pride to the Lehigh Valley.

Tony Iannelli, President/CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, comments,'The resurrection of this great institution is a credit to the professional staff and volunteer community leaders who were insistent on the success of these much needed community resources.'

The Chamber has selected Sacred Heart Hospital to recognize them for their amazing progress over the past two years. Since John Nespoli joined the hospital in 2009, Sacred Heart has experienced a tremendous turnaround for the betterment of our community with focus on growth in admissions, attraction of new doctors/surgeons, expense reduction and streamlining of operations.

John Nespoli, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Heart HealthCare System, says, 'Sacred Heart Hospital is dedicated to the community we serve. This commitment, coupled with our tireless work to ensure financial viability of the Hospital, will ensure we remain the heartbeat of Center City, Allentown. We are proud of the services we provide and the place we hold within our community. Sacred Heart is personal, it is different and it is a unique place to heal as a patient. The Hospital is also a special, caring place to work each day, with staff and employees who truly believe in the mission of providing nurturing care for all to build a healthier community. We thank the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce for choosing Sacred Heart as the recipient of this award and look forward to ensuring access to health care for the residents of the Greater Lehigh Valley.'

Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber’s mission is to serve as the voice for business by continuously improving the business climate and creating growth opportunities for the Greater Lehigh Valley region. We accomplish this through networking events, member benefits programs, training programs and public policy initiatives.

Sacred Heart Hospital

Sacred Heart Hospital is a 233-bed, acute care, medical/surgical hospital located in the heart of Allentown, PA. In 2012, Sacred Heart Hospital will celebrate 100 years of serving the health care needs of our community. Its work is centered on the campus at Fourth and Chew Streets but reaches out across the city through seven primary care sites, five school-based health Centers and three parish nursing locations. The mission commits Sacred Heart to provide healthcare and wellness through quality services and programs with special concern for the sick and the poor. For more information, visit www.shh.org.